Recommended Services

Vetted services to help you settle and live in Shanghai

You need a Chinese phone number for almost everything — WeChat, Alipay, banking, deliveries. Get an eSIM before arrival for immediate connectivity, then pick up a local SIM after landing.

Airalo eSIM

Recommended

$5–15/week

Buy and install before you fly. Instant data on arrival, no physical SIM needed. Great for the first few days until you get a local number.

Download Airalo app on iOS or Android. Purchase a China data plan.

Holafly eSIM

$6–20/week

Unlimited data eSIM plans. Slightly more expensive but no data caps. Good for heavy data users or longer stays.

Download Holafly app or visit holafly.com. Activate before departure.

China Unicom (中国联通)

¥59–129/month

Best local carrier for foreigners. Passport registration at any store. Plans include calls, SMS, and data. Required for banking and full WeChat/Alipay setup.

Visit any China Unicom store with passport. Flagship: 757 Nanjing East Rd, Huangpu.

China Mobile (中国移动)

¥59–128/month

Largest network coverage. Some stores have English-speaking staff in expat areas. Slightly better rural coverage than Unicom.

Visit any China Mobile store with passport. Jing'an store: 1376 Nanjing West Rd.

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